Improvement in velocipedes



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Lam Patent No. 87,579, dated March 9, 1869.

, IMPROVEMENT m vnnoc'mnnns.

The Schedule referred. to in these Letters Patent making part of the same.

To. all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM MOKERAHAN, of the city of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Velocipedes; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In these drawings- Figure 1 represents, a perspectiveview of my improved apparatus, Which I have. denominated The Olympic Velocipede.

Figure 2 represents an enlarged view of one-half of the frame-work and machinery between the wheels.

Figure 3 is a side or edge view of a greater portion of the same.

All the drawings are lettered, and similar letters indicate like parts in the several views.

By reference to lig.1, it will be seen that, in this apparatus, only two wheels are used; but, instead of being placed, the one in advance of the other, as in ordinary velocipedes, they are arranged side by side, so as to travel in parallel lines, the centre'of each wheel revolving on the same or nearly the same axial line D D From the hub S, of each wheel, and projecting inwardly, is a short shaftor axle, c, which passes through and rotates in suitable bearingsin a circular frame, K one for each axle.

From the lower'part of these frames depends a ver- -tical rod, T, the'lower ends of which pass through and are pivoted to a cross-bar, E. "This, with the vertical rods T, forms the carrying-frame of theapparatus.

To the middleof this cross-bar E is hinged, at its centre, a vibrating lever,'N, as seen at fig. 1, the extreme ends of which are pivote to connecting-rods, b b, extending up to and attach d to the cranks'a, on the inner ends of the rotating shafts or axles e.

Secured to each of these rods 7), just above the point of their connection with the vibrating-lever N, are the pedals O O, for the feet, and through, which, by reason of their attachment to thecranks a, motion may be imparted to the wheels by the operator standing on them, and moving his feet up and down alternately, as in the act of walking. I

To maintainthe wheels in an upright position, and proper distance apart, a curved ba'r, B, is extended from one circular frame, K, to the other, and is so pivoted to these frames, and to the vertical rods supporting the cross-bar E, as that, by means of a properly-constructed and arranged mechanism, either wheel may be thrown out of a line parallel with that of the ther, and caused to turn the apparatus.

To accomplish this, I have made the .lower half of each supporting-rod T square, andon this square part, have placed aproj ectiug arm, 41, and which is intended to slide up or down thereon.

This arm stands out some distance from its connection with the rod, and, at this point, is turned upward and sideways, so as to form an incline.

This inclined part of this arm extends through a closelyfit-ting hole in theextreme' end of another projecting arm, 72, rigidly attached to the lower end of the curved cross-bar B.

The upper ends of each of these inclined arms, 11, are provided with handles, 1, and, as the operator stands upon the pedals 0, between these handles, he can easily reach them, and, by drawing up on both at the same time, the peculiar construction and arrangement of the inclined arms at and their connection to and relation with the mechanism for operating the wheels are such that it will bring them both into parallel lines, by which means he can use his strength in addition to his weight in propelling the apparatus. But should he desire to veer one wheel, and thus change the direction of the machine, all that is necessary for him to do is to push down on the handle next that wheel, which operation forces the projecting arm d, on the supporting-rod T,

around, as the incline of the handle slides through the hole in the rigid arm h of the cross-bar B, and which carries with it the axle-support, and, as aconsequence, the wheel.

Having thus briefly described my apparatus, I wish it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the peculiar mechanical construction of parts, as these may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

For instance, the apparatus maybe constructed with a seat, so as to enable the operator to sit during the time of propulsion, or the handles and arrangements for guiding the machine may he changed, or the various joints may be made to work differently by ball and socket, or the cranks can be provided eachwith a slot for the wrist-pin, by which they may be shortened, and the movement of the pedals limited or adjusted to suit different persons.

I claim, connecting with the hub S, of each wheel, a short shaft or axle, 0, frame K, vertical rods T, crossbar E, vibrating lever N, connecting-rods b b, crank a,

- pedals c c,.curved bar B, projecting arms dh;and handles f, the several parts being constructed, combined, arranged, and operating with relation to each other, substantially in the manner shown, and for the purpose described.

- WM. MOKERAHAN.

Witnesses:

JOSIAH W. ELLs, B. G. Monnrson. 

